Listen "How to Become Resilient AF: Grief, Gratitude, and Growth, with Blair Kaplan Venables and Alana Kaplan"
Episode Synopsis
In this irreverent, informative, and inspiring episode, Blair and Alana Kaplan of The Global Resilience Project share their journey through profound loss and how it sparked a global movement to help others strengthen their "resilience muscle." After losing both parents within a year—their mother to unexpected cancer and their father shortly after—they created a framework for resilience that combines neuroscience, storytelling, and practical tools. The sisters discuss their annual "Grief Week" getaway, their "Dead Parents Society" merchandise, and Blair's transformative plant medicine journeys, while explaining how practices like daily gratitude and intentional storytelling can rewire our brains for greater emotional resilience.At the core of their work is the concept that resilience is a muscle that can be strengthened through specific practices. They emphasize that building this muscle before tragedy strikes is crucial—just like going to the gym prepares you for physically demanding tasks. Key Takeaways:Start a daily gratitude practice at the same time each day, listing three specific things you're grateful for from the past 24 hoursStrengthen your resilience muscle before you need it by practicing coping strategies regularly, even when things are okayShare your story through journaling, conversations with trusted friends, or professional support rather than keeping difficult experiences bottled upIdentify aspects of your life you can control and focus your energy there, especially during uncertain timesSchedule specific "worry time" to give yourself permission to feel difficult emotions while preventing them from consuming your entire dayBe intentional with media consumption by removing news apps or setting specific times to engage with potentially distressing contentCreate meaningful morning routines that center and ground you rather than immediately exposing yourself to external stressorsLearn more about Blair and Alana:Global Resilience Project Blair's WebsiteLinkedInFacebookIG (Blair)IG (Global Resilience Community)Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts "This is my go-to podcast for inspiration and to discover new approaches to embrace the challenges in my life." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me reach more people -- just like you -- find strategies and insights to do the things that feel undoable. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. Follow now! Sign up for my newsletter and learn more about these remarkable stories at www.jessicafeinstories.comOrder Jessica's memoir, Breath Taking: A Memoir of Family, Dreams, and Broken Genes Watch Jessica's TedX TalkMusic credit: Limitless by Bells